Chapter 5—Paper Man 4
The CEO’s office.
After putting down his game, Luo Yuan became completely absorbed in his work, thoroughly disproving others’ claims that he was a human money-printing machine.
Two hours later, someone knocked on the door.
“Come in,” Luo Yuan said coldly.
A slender figure entered slowly, carrying a mix of nervousness and anticipation. Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the documents she held to her chest. As she approached the desk, she gazed at Luo Yuan’s handsome profile, her eyelashes fluttering. Blushing, she timidly said, “…CEO, here are the financial reports.”
Luo Yuan, busy with work, didn’t even look up. “Mm, put it down. I’ll review it later.”
After a moment, hearing no sound of departure, Luo Yuan frowned and looked up. “Is there something else?”
The woman’s face turned even redder. She quickly lowered her head and shook it, saying, “N-no, nothing. I’ll leave now!”
With that, she hurried out of the office.
The assistant manager who had just returned from the restroom witnessed this scene and pulled out his phone, poking around in the company’s anonymous gossip group.
“Ugh, another woman falls for him. Our president’s charm is truly irresistible.”
“Are you girls all idiots? You dare like a devil like CEO Luo?”
“Exactly! Last meeting, he chewed me out so badly I wished I could be reborn.”
“The president’s work performance is impressive, but as a boyfriend? He’d kill you in seconds. Imagine him whispering in your ear with that magnetic voice—’Darling, what garbage is this? Stay late and fix it.'”
“I’d jolt upright in bed, dying to laugh—’Tonight’s overtime again? Are you trying to kill me so you can inherit my Huabei?'”
“What’s so attractive about the president? Just that face?”
“Isn’t that face enough? [Black Man Confused.jpg]”
That evening, Luo Yuan returned to his villa.
Before going to sleep, he suddenly remembered the game. Without giving it much thought, his hand had already tapped the heart-shaped icon.
A stream of light swept across the screen. Moments later, the familiar little house appeared again.
The room was still as messy as before.
However, Luo Yuan didn’t dwell on this detail this time, because he noticed the little man was missing.
A single glance around the bedroom revealed no trace of him.
Luo Yuan frowned and tapped the door in the corner, switching the scene to the small courtyard. Still no sign of the man. He returned to the house interior.
Could the little man have left? But the narration hadn’t shown Su Tang leaving; it only briefly explained what Su Tang had been doing during the time Luo Yuan hadn’t logged into the game.
After a long day at work, Luo Yuan had hoped to relieve some stress by teasing the paper-thin character. Now his mood grew even worse, his expression darkening like storm clouds.
Luo Yuan held the phone motionless, then suddenly noticed another door on the opposite side, hidden behind a dark curtain.
Without hesitation, he tapped the curtain to open the door.
Inside, mist swirled around, creating an ethereal haze. Yet through the murk, he could faintly make out the pale silhouette of the little man.
This was the bathroom.
The little person was bathing.
Luo Yuan froze.
Su Tang, startled by the suddenly opened door, had thought it was a ghost. His face paled as he trembled violently. It took him a long moment to remember Luo Yuan’s presence.
Holy shit!
He made me call him master nonstop, and now he dares to sneak watch me bathing.
[ Dead pervert. ]
The door slammed shut with a loud bang.
[ Su Tang’s favorability -100 ]
[ Warning! Your lover’s favorability is dangerously low. It has reached the “hated” level. Take immediate remedial action or risk permanent damage to the relationship. ]
Luo Yuan stared at the notification, deeply regretting his actions. The slight favorability he’d painstakingly earned through cultivation had been wiped out in an instant. This time, the fault was undoubtedly his own; he’d be equally furious in Su Tang’s shoes.
Feeling guilty, Luo Yuan racked his brain for ways to apologize and soothe the little person. He failed to realize how this sudden panic and concern—like someone comforting a girlfriend—was entirely new to him.
Luo Yuan tapped the conversation button and typed a lengthy, heartfelt apology into the input field. But after hitting send…
[ Your lover is too angry to communicate with you. ]
Luo Yuan was momentarily bewildered, unsure what to do. He rarely tried to please others; as a child, he had attempted to gain his father’s affection through such efforts, but repeated disappointments had hardened his heart. He’d erected thick barriers to isolate himself from the world, focusing solely on self-improvement and excelling in studies and work. His interactions with others remained strictly limited to necessary social courtesies.
Realizing apologies were futile, Luo Yuan resolved to demonstrate his remorse through action. He opened the in-game shop, made a seamless purchase without hesitation—the very same person who’d sworn never to be tricked into spending now parted with credits more readily than anyone else.
He bought several of the most expensive foods, having noticed Su Tang’s apparent fondness for eating.
When Su Tang emerged from the bathroom fully dressed, the food lay untouched on the table. But Su Tang acted as if it didn’t exist, marching straight to the bed with a frosty expression. He burrowed under the covers, facing the wall. Luo Yuan could only see a round lump of blankets—Su Tang’s anger so complete he wouldn’t even show a single hair.
Luo Yuan felt he must be losing his mind, finding this childish behavior oddly endearing. He typed another message, assuring Su Tang he’d truly meant no harm and had no idea that was the bathroom.
But Su Tang remained unresponsive.
Luo Yuan decisively threw off the quilt, held Su Tang firmly, and yanked him upright from the bed.
Caught completely off guard by the sudden weightlessness, Su Tang panicked. His limbs flailed wildly as he bared his teeth, his small face flushing crimson with anger. He struggled and shouted, “Let me go!”
Unfazed, Luo Yuan maintained his grip on Su Tang’s clothes, feeling an almost primal urge to keep the boy completely under his control.
Only after Su Tang had vented his anger did Luo Yuan release him, typing, “I apologize for the bathroom incident. I truly didn’t mean it. But you can’t just hide away in a huff without hearing me out. If you try to hide again, I’ll drag you out once more.”
Though Luo Yuan typed rapidly, before he could finish his message, the freed Su Tang immediately burrowed back under the quilt, curling into a tight ball. He even wrapped his chubby arms around the bedpost to prevent Luo Yuan from grabbing him.
With a sigh of exasperation, Luo Yuan dug Su Tang out again. He effortlessly lifted the boy and settled him in a chair beside the table, which overflowed with Luo Yuan’s expensive apology gifts.
Realizing escape was futile, Su Tang remained seated with arms crossed, his pouty face refusing to look at Luo Yuan or speak.
Luo Yuan pushed the table’s delicious treats closer to Su Tang, then pushed them even closer.
Su Tang could certainly smell that enticing aroma. His tense little face wavered slightly as he stole glances at the cake—first one glance, then another… Finally, he couldn’t resist reaching out, grabbing the piece, and taking a big bite. The cake was soft and fluffy, with a rich, crispy flavor that filled his mouth.
He closed his eyes in satisfaction, his short legs kicking in the air as he savored the treat.
Truth be told, Su Tang wasn’t really that angry. Being seen by another man wasn’t a big deal, especially in this Q-version body where he wasn’t at a disadvantage. He’d just been startled by the sudden appearance, remembering all those horror movie scenes. But it turned out to be nothing more than his own overactive imagination, which left him feeling embarrassed and annoyed.
[ So good! Awooo! ]
[ Su Tang suddenly grew wary: No, I can’t be bought so easily. ]
The little man’s expression shifted as if he’d had a sudden realization. He pressed his lips together, deliberately hardening his face into an “I’m unshakable and won’t be bribed” expression before setting down the cake. But unfortunately, the comment stream betrayed him once again.
[ Su Tang’s favorability +1, +1, +1… ]
Su Tang pushed the delicious food forward with a look of refusal.
[ Su Tang secretly thought: Can’t let that creep notice. ]
Luo Yuan: “……”
Though, I’ve discovered everything.
Author’s Note:
Luo Yuan: Adorable. Want to…